Friday, 30 June 2017

This is part of a series where top results are scored and tallied up. The Championship is the top 4 teams, scored 6-3-2-1. Then the Premiership again top 4 sides, 6-4-2-2. Challenge Cup finalists, 4-2. League Cup 4-2, Lancashire & Yorkshire Cups 3-1.

A break down of competitions shows who were the big hitters in this decade.

In the previous decade, St Helens Leeds and Widnes were best. For the 1980's after a slow start it was all Wigan. Widnes was well behind, while the two Hull sides were 3rd and 4th most successful. Saints and Warrington made up the top six.

In the World Club Challenge with Australia, Wigan won the first to be held this decade. In 1987, they defeated Manly 8-2 in a tryless encounter at Central Park, Wigan. In the other match in this period, Widnes overcame Canberra 30-18 after trailing 0-12 early on. The Match was played at Old Trafford, Manchester. These results are not incorporated in the points chart below.

The Hull sides were strong early on but faded as the decade progressed. Widnes started and finished well but stalled in the middle. From 1985 to 1990, the Wigan team was almost unstoppable, winning two league titles, two grand finals, four Challenge Cups, four Lancashire Cups and four League Cups. They were the cup specialists. Could they maintain that through the next decade. We shall see.

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

The Colonial Cup is between the USA and Canada, going back to 2010. The USA has had the better run in the series but for two years, those north of the border were victors. The USA has won ten games and Canada four. The USA winners in five series with Canada twice. 2017 will take a break with the World Cup year interfering.

COLONIAL CUP

YEAR

1st

2nd

2010

USA 1

Canada 0

2011

USA 1

Canada 0

2012

USA 2

Canada 0

2013

USA 3

Canada 1

2014

Canada 1

USA 0

2015

Canada 2

USA 1

2016

USA 2

Canada 0

The Atlantic Cup (called the Americas Championship since 2016) is a tri-series with the above nations and Jamaica added. It was first held in 2009 with just the USA and Jamaica as a one off match in the US. Canada joined in 2010 with the US winning from Jamaica and the newbies third. It went into recess until 2016 and the USA triumphed again, with Canada up to second and Jamaicans finishing a creditable third. Is it planned again? It should be as it very much helps the sport develop in region and gives players something to aspire to, playing internationals.

The Nordic Cup is between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. It has been held each year from 2011 to 2016. Each nation has won it at least once, with Denmark doing best overall. Unfortunately, Denmark had a temporary halt to the game there and the 2017 series will not go ahead.

There was a game between Norway and Denmark in 2017, played in Norway. They came away triumphant 38-18. I guess that could count as the Nordic winners for 2017 but I'm not sure that even the participants viewed it that way or not. Denmark is getting back again to playing RL so hopefully a 2018 three team version will take place.

NORDIC CUP

YEAR

1st

2nd

3rd

2011

Denmark

Norway

Sweden

2012

Norway

Denmark

Sweden

2013

Sweden

Denmark

Norway

2014

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

2015

Denmark

Norway

Sweden

2016

Norway

Denmark

Sweden

In another tournament, the lowland countries of Belgium and the Netherlands were joined by Germany for a triangular series. It was won by Belgium, with the Dutch in third. I'm not sure this will be held again but I would have thought the relative closeness in distance of the three participants would have made it viable. Hopefully it's not the last.

Monday, 26 June 2017

Below the European Cup and B Cup lies the C Cup (perhaps I could have put that better). Anyway, lesser nation can play at a level that tests, gives experience and hopefully develops players. Two to three nations participate. As to why more don't I'm unsure.

I hope it can be expanded as it is such an important part of the process of encouraging them. The only down side is if only two teams are involved, it lessens the number of games and variety of styles they will be exposed to. I imagine 2018 will see a resumption.

Sunday, 25 June 2017

This tournament is for nations that are finding their feet in the game. Some of them have benefited, others are no longer. Still, it gives them a chance to grow as players have the incentive to represent their nation at international level.

Of the countries listed, Austria has since ceased playing. Estonia and Latvia struggle and are not consistently playing as best I can ascertain. Germany is holding rather than growing. The rest - which is the majority - are doing well, having no doubt benefited from this tournament's existence.

It hasn't bee played of late, seemingly due to the World Cup qualifiers. I think it could have been as these countries aren't going but maybe resources were stretched. It certainly needs to continue and hopefully a pathway to the European Cup, which is the next stage up.